Dual Cultivation System: My Cultivation Was Crippled, So I Rely on Intimacy to Level Up

Chapter 200: The Backyard Exploded! The Golden Core Master Is Actually a New Sister?

Gao Feiyang’s peach blossom eyes narrowed slightly as he snapped his folding fan shut.

“If you ask me, Elder Yunmian, there’s no need to overthink it. Where in the Myriad Demon Mountain Range would a Rank 4 Great Demon even come from? These Rank 3 creatures are just relying on slightly stronger bloodline talents. Their spiritual intelligence hasn’t even opened, and they haven’t cultivated any demon race techniques. They’re incredibly stupid.”

He waved his fan dismissively. “When they fight, they only know how to burn their Essence Blood and charge in like maniacs. They are the absolute lowest of the low. I’d bet eight out of ten times that we cultivators have just hunted them too much lately. The resentment built up, and they launched a wave of suicidal charges for revenge. There’s no grand conspiracy here.”

His words were arrogant, but they held a certain thread of logic.

Li Yunmian rubbed her temples, exhausted. She waved her hand, her voice laced with heavy fatigue. “Forget it. If we can’t find the source, then we can’t. It wasn’t something that absolutely had to be figured out tonight. You may withdraw.”

“Yes, Master.” Mo Qianyuan bowed respectfully.

Li Yunmian’s gaze shifted to the young man standing beside her, and her voice softened. “Zhou Kai, you stay.”

Gao Feiyang and Mo Qianyuan exchanged a look. The former’s flamboyant eyes flashed with an ‘I understand’ expression, and he silently backed out of the room.

Mo Qianyuan, completely oblivious to the undercurrents, simply bowed and closed the heavy wooden doors of the council hall behind her.

The exact instant the doors clicked shut, Zhou Kai moved.

He took a single step and materialized behind Li Yunmian. His warm chest pressed against her back, and his arms wrapped firmly around her waist, pulling her entirely into his embrace.

Li Yunmian’s body stiffened for a fraction of a second, then melted against him. She leaned back against his chest and let out a long, weary sigh.

“If there’s no Great Demon driving them from the shadows, this siege was utterly unreasonable,” she murmured softly. “But the Myriad Demon Mountain Range definitely has no Rank 4 beasts. This time, their target was far too clear: the west city. Husband, be careful in all matters.”

Zhou Kai rested his chin on her fragrant shoulder, drinking in the feeling of the warm, soft jade in his arms. A low, rumbling laugh escaped his chest.

“Mm, this matter is indeed strange. But Yunmian, you just left Secluded Cultivation. There’s no need to trouble your beautiful head with such trivial matters. Leave the heavy lifting to me. After I handle our ‘family matters,’ I’ll personally go to the west city to investigate thoroughly. I won’t give you any reason to worry.”

Before she could respond, Zhou Kai’s arms tightened. With a sudden shift in leverage, he scooped her right off her feet, carrying her horizontally in his arms.

“Ah!” Li Yunmian let out a startled gasp, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck. A vibrant crimson blush exploded across her pretty face. “What are you doing! I just left seclusion, and you can’t hold back already?”

Seeing her chiding, flustered expression, where was there even a trace of the dignified Golden Core great cultivator? She was simply a charming, coquettish woman brimming with allure.

Zhou Kai laughed heartily and pecked her on the lips. “Where is my wife injured? You clearly just didn’t want to deal with the mountain of paperwork, so you decided to hide away and sleep.”

Then, his eyes narrowed, and his tone turned domineering.

“Yunmian, you are my Dao Companion. You are not some canary to be kept hidden in a cave dwelling. Today, I am taking you to meet all your sisters. It’s time our family formally met.”

Zhou Kai’s mind was as clear as a mirror. Li Yunmian acted as if she didn’t care about anything, but in her heart, she desperately wanted their relationship to be acknowledged. Rather than letting her suffer in silence, he would cut off all her retreats and bring their love into the light.

The woman he recognized would stand open and aboveboard.

Without another word, he held the beauty tight against his chest and strode out of the council hall, heading straight for the eastern side of the spirit mountain.

Inside Zhou Kai’s quiet, elegant courtyard, several graceful figures were waiting. They had received his message earlier and were gathered in anticipation.

When Zhou Kai strode through the arched gateway, every pair of eyes turned toward him. And when they saw the woman in his arms, the air in the courtyard instantly froze.

Plop.

The spirit fruit in Fish Baibai’s hand fell to the ground, rolling twice across the stone path. She didn’t even notice. Her massive eyes were practically bugging out of her head.

Her little brain flatlined. Junior Brother… carried Elder Yunmian back? What kind of insane operation is this? Isn’t Master a supreme Golden Core expert? Why is she being carried like a little wife?

Chen Ziyi’s hand trembled as she poured tea. Scalding liquid splashed over the back of her hand, but she only shivered slightly, her composure tested to its absolute limit.

Chen Ziqing subconsciously grabbed her older sister’s sleeve, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Wang Qiaoqiao’s eyes darted rapidly, processing the power dynamic.

Lin Zhiwei secretly cheered in her heart. My man actually conquered a Golden Core! My backer is practically invincible!

Li Lanyin subconsciously blurted out, “Great-grandmother?!”

Terrified, she immediately dropped her head, staring at the floorboards, desperately wishing she could turn into air and vanish.

That was Li Yunmian! Zhou Kai’s Master! The supreme authority of the Sect!

And right now, this terrifying Golden Core cultivator was blushing furiously, burying her face into Zhou Kai’s chest, too thoroughly ashamed to look anyone in the eye.

“Zhou Kai, put me down!” Li Yunmian’s muffled, panicked voice came from his chest.

It was over. They had all seen. A lifetime of dignity and face was completely destroyed in a single afternoon.

Yet, beneath the paralyzing embarrassment, feeling the varied gazes of the other women, that deeply buried desire to be acknowledged was finally satisfied.

Zhou Kai didn’t put her down. Instead, he stood tall and announced to the courtyard in a booming voice: “As you can see, Yunmian is now your sister.”

Wang Qiaoqiao, ever the sharpest of the bunch, reacted first. The initial shock in her eyes was instantly replaced by a flash of brilliant calculation. The corners of her lips hooked up, and she actually smiled.

She gracefully stepped forward and executed a perfect, respectful bow to the woman in Zhou Kai’s arms. “Qiaoqiao pays respects to Sister Yunmian. Husband truly has heaven-defying skill… to think even Master has become family!”

Her words shattered the frozen atmosphere.

Li Yunmian grew even more embarrassed, refusing to make a sound.

Chen Ziyi took a deep breath, suppressing the chaotic storm of thoughts in her mind. She smoothed out her robes, stepped forward, and bowed gracefully. Her voice remained as gentle and poised as ever. “Ziyi pays respects to Sister Yunmian.”

With those two leading the charge, the others finally snapped out of their daze.

Chen Ziqing timidly followed with a bow. Lin Zhiwei imitated Chen Ziyi, greeting her softly.

Fish Baibai scratched her head, shuffling closer to examine the pair before muttering under her breath, “Junior Brother, you really are too domineering.”

Only Shen Hanyi remained aloof. Her cold gaze swept over Zhou Kai and Li Yunmian before returning to the blade of her sword, her face revealing absolutely no emotion. As long as it didn’t interfere with her sword, and as long as Zhou Kai was still Zhou Kai, it was fine by her.

[Ding! Red Beauty Li Yunmian Affection +10!] [Affection: 100 (Unwavering)] [Red Beauty Li Yunmian Affection has reached full value. Reward: 100 Omni-Interaction Points!]

Leaning against his chest and listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, the very last trace of unease and alienation in Li Yunmian’s heart melted away.

After settling the explosive dynamics of the backyard, Zhou Kai handed the thoroughly embarrassed Li Yunmian over to the most capable hands—Wang Qiaoqiao and Chen Ziyi. Using the excuse that he needed to investigate external threats now that internal chaos was pacified, he slipped away.

Night deepened over the city.

Inside the Asking Star Restaurant, within a luxurious, private guest room strictly closed to the public, warm jade formed the bed, and crushed pearls provided a soft, luminous glow.

He Xinrou’s dark hair was disheveled, her clothes completely discarded. Her snow-white, delicate skin flushed with a captivating pink hue as she nestled tightly in Zhou Kai’s embrace.

She was the current Headmaster of the Asking Star Sect.

It was a small Sect that had relied solely on hunting Demon Beasts in the outer regions of the Myriad Demon Mountain Range to survive. Unfortunately, the heavens were unpredictable. The previous Headmaster and the sect’s elites had ventured out, stumbled into a Grand Perfection Rank 2 Ghost Wolf King, and were almost entirely wiped out.

With the pillars of the sect destroyed, morale shattered, and the disciples fled in droves.

Their inheritance was nearly severed, their spiritual vein was seized, and their market shops were on the verge of bankruptcy. He Xinrou had the highest seniority and was the strongest at the 7th Level of Qi Condensation. Thrust into the crisis, she was named Headmaster.

She was decisive. She liquidated every remaining asset, gathered the final hundred-plus loyal disciples, and migrated to Shangqing City. She borrowed Spirit Stones up to her neck just to open the Asking Star Restaurant to barely keep her people from starving.

Since the day Zhou Kai brought Fish Baibai in for a feast, He Xinrou had locked her sights onto this immensely wealthy and powerful Foundation Establishment cultivator.

She wanted to attach herself to him. She wanted a way out for her sect, and for herself.

And Zhou Kai? After tasting the peerless flavor of a supreme mature woman like Li Yunmian, seeing the still-charming He Xinrou—whose eyes and brows practically dripped with mature allure—he found it somewhat hard to restrain himself.

One had the intent. The other had the desire. Everything happened naturally.

To Zhou Kai, cultivating with the women at home was serious business. But this? These transactional affairs in the outside world were merely the casual embellishments of mortal life.

As for developing He Xinrou into a “Red Beauty” and adding her to the system?

Zhou Kai had long since set his standards. He only accepted two types of women into his core circle: those he genuinely developed feelings for, like Wu Hongxiao, and absolute Heaven’s Favored Daughters, like Du Chuyao.

He Xinrou was neither.

He played with the beautiful hair of the mature woman in his arms, his fingers tracing her smooth skin. “Headmaster He, the fire hasn’t gone down yet. What should we do?”

He Xinrou’s eyes turned sultry, her gaze like silk. She understood his meaning immediately. Her soft body began to slide downward, her small mouth parting.

But Zhou Kai reached out and grabbed her shoulder, stopping her.

He Xinrou froze, looking up in confusion. “Senior Zhou…?”

Zhou Kai didn’t speak. He just stared at her quietly, letting the silence stretch.

He Xinrou bit her red lip. She knew exactly what the price was. Zhou Kai had already taken three or four female cultivators from her sect.

Finally making up her mind, she lowered her head in absolute submission and whispered, “Senior Zhou… our sect still has over a dozen disciples with excellent appearances. They are all still virgins. They are all willing to share Senior’s burdens.”

Zhou Kai still didn’t speak. With a flick of his Mana, he pulled a cup of spirit tea through the air into his hand and took a slow, leisurely sip.

Then, he flipped his hand. Ten Talismans materialized and fluttered casually onto the jade bed.

To Zhou Kai, these Talismans were pocket change. But to the Asking Star Sect, which was struggling just to eat, they were absolute treasures.

He Xinrou snatched up the Talismans, feeling the surging Spiritual Energy radiating from the paper. A complex storm of wild joy and deep humiliation flashed in her eyes.

She bent down, carefully storing the lifeline into her Storage Bag. When she raised her head again, the humiliation was gone, replaced by a flawless, charming smile.

“Thank you for the reward, Senior. I will go right now and select two clever, sensible girls to come serve you.”

She gathered her clothes from the floor, dressed in a blur, offered Zhou Kai a deeply respectful bow, and withdrew from the room.

Left alone on the massive jade bed, Zhou Kai listened to her hurried footsteps fading down the hall. The corners of his mouth uncontrollably curled upward.

“Life… is truly good.”